Just before the holidays, a colleague caught me off-guard when she remarked:
'Tudung ni macam tudung orang Malaysia!'
(This tudung is like those worn by Malaysians!)
She then went on and on comparing Malaysian tudungs with Singaporean tudungs, with things like Singaporeans like the embroidery on their tudungs to be understated, matching the colour of the tudung, whereas Malaysians preferred loud, bold embroidery on their tudungs.
It was the confidence in her voice, and was it a sort of 'disdain' when she said 'Malaysian' that made the colours go up to my cheeks?
Honestly, I was stumped. Flabbergasted. Gulped - any word that is equivalent to 'shocked' would fit in.
And I don't know why - I felt embarrassed.
Smiling, I managed a lame - 'Yelah..suamipun memang orang Malaysia...'
On retrospect - Why was I embarrased?
Did I feel insulted? Hmm...yes, in a way.
Question is - why should I feel this way? Is there a ranking of style in terms of nationality, and that one nationality is more 'superior' than the other?
I then remembered my students who would confidently describe how they can even recognise students from different madrasahs from the way they wore their tudungs!
They even swore they can differentiate between a Singaporean and Malaysian by the way the ladies wore their tudungs.
Again, its not this skill in differentiating that disturbed me - its the tone that goes with this comparison.
We are in danger of becoming egocentric.
Its okay to appreciate differences and embrace that as part of Allah's creations - for did He not say that He created people of different nations so that we can get to know one another?
Its not okay if this comparison brings on a feeling of superiority over the other. :)
Hassan Al Bana once said that nationalism - the feeling of love and pride for one's birthplace is encouraged - it is a most ingrained, natural feeling that one have and need not be suppressed. He cited examples of how Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and his companions pined to go back to Mecca when they were in Madinah, although in Madinah, they were treated very well. Bilal would shed tears, reciting poems of yearning for Mecca.
However, to him, there is no nationality in Islam - for Islam knows no territorial boundaries. All Muslims are brothers to one another, right?
Nationalism and nationality.
Food for thought.
As for me, if asked, my answer remains the same - "I am a blue-blooded Singaporean!"
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Hadi-san
Hadi came back from Japan looking thinner, but leaner. Halal food was difficult to find there. McDonald's sold McPork, so he dared not even buy the fries. McPork! One would think the Mcs have more creativity than to name their burger that.... What I find endearing was the quiet confidence he wore - it's difficult to put a finger to it, but just like Halim, who went to Medan for a week, Hadi too had a confidence in his gait, in his looks and the way he speaks. Yes, being away from home does have good effects on you, I guess. And of course, he misses local food much. Everything local!
And yes, I found out again how difficult to let go. Started missing him on the third day, so much so that everything I touched reminded me of him. Part of the reason why I wanted to attend the SL Camp was to keep myself occupied. Yes, lame, isn't it? :)
All said and done, alhamdulillah he and friends and teachers arrived safely back home.
Welcome back, son....
And yes, I found out again how difficult to let go. Started missing him on the third day, so much so that everything I touched reminded me of him. Part of the reason why I wanted to attend the SL Camp was to keep myself occupied. Yes, lame, isn't it? :)
All said and done, alhamdulillah he and friends and teachers arrived safely back home.
Welcome back, son....
Thursday, December 17, 2009
SL Camp 2009 - iLead Camp
I nearly did not make it for the camp.
I did not receive any notification nor reminders and I was asking myself - 'Nak buat bodoh, atau nak buat pandai?' (To plead ignorance or take the initiative?)
Commonsense overtook me and there I was, smsing to Yanis, confirmed, and there was I, reaching school at after 8.00 a.m. that beautiful Monday, 15th and being hurriedly onto the bus for Sembawang's High Elements.
And what a camp it was!!! :)
My main aim was to help my sisters, Yanis and Faezah and alhamdulillah, not only was I able to help (for the Lifeskills Coaching, I was the only teacher around, the rest were at Sembawang) I felt I learnt a little more about them...bonded a little more with them too :) I really do miss you gals...
Also, I wanted to play the role of the Observer, so there I was, notebook in hand, and busily jotting down notes about what I saw and felt...
Here goes...
1. Sembawang High Elements
Those I thought were timid, turned out to be brave, and those I thought were brave, turned out to be braver, for they conquered their fear and came up on top, literally, of things.
Nabmo is an outstanding example. A confident, bubbly girl, I never knew she had this thing about heights and wow! Only Allah knows how she conquered those jitters and completed the Jacob's Ladder, which I was told, was the most difficult of the stations there. In fact, two of our primary girls fell through the rungs and had abrasions on their hands. At one point, Nabmo was counting the rungs she had to step on in order to complete the course!
And the Thinker! :) I don't think he quite heard all the encouragements he was getting from below, so focused was he, and so determined to complete the course! At one point, I just wanted to shout to him 'Don't think! Just do it!' Arif, arif...
We all heard Maryam's 'victory' scream...
Harith completed his station in good time..looked pretty confident from down here..
Fathullah, frail-looking that he was, actually was all-hands when it came to relaying the rope and he almost looked like running as he completed the log-like station - Amazing, truly! I remember thinking he must have done this many times before.
Zubair was surely the surprise of the day for me. The nondescript, laidback Exco member surprised me with his gunghoism and he was the first student to go up the Champions Pole after Mr Izzad! Imagine!
Abu, for all his 'giler-ness' (hei, I did not say he was, that was what his friends called him...!), actually looked pretty nervous before he climbed up the Champion's Pole. I was actually worried for him, what with Shah shouting dares at him - challenging him to do pull-ups all the way up there. And yes, he did all fives of those pull-ups! :)
And Sis Faezah! Wow! She really conquered that fear to let go at the end of the course and just, well, let go! Salute to you sis, SALUTE!
Me?? Managed to skip the temptation and encouragement from the kids and did not do the elements. Why? Because the sky is high... ha!ha! I AM afraid of heights...
2. Lifeskills Coaching
I like the 'storm' session best. Noisy, bingit, but best to the max! I must say the Aljunied's Student Counselors were confident, know their stuff well and managed to prod the very shy Irsyadians to participate and open up a little. I identified two who had outstanding leadership qualities, not knowing that these two were actually the Head Student Counselor and Vice Student Counselor. May we have more future collaborations with them...
3. Campfire, turned candlelight, turned Spotlight session
Kudos to the Exco for making this happen. They managed to invite ex-SLs and from the feedback sessions, you can sense that the kids have learnt a lot from the sharing.
Other Observations:
I did not receive any notification nor reminders and I was asking myself - 'Nak buat bodoh, atau nak buat pandai?' (To plead ignorance or take the initiative?)
Commonsense overtook me and there I was, smsing to Yanis, confirmed, and there was I, reaching school at after 8.00 a.m. that beautiful Monday, 15th and being hurriedly onto the bus for Sembawang's High Elements.
And what a camp it was!!! :)
My main aim was to help my sisters, Yanis and Faezah and alhamdulillah, not only was I able to help (for the Lifeskills Coaching, I was the only teacher around, the rest were at Sembawang) I felt I learnt a little more about them...bonded a little more with them too :) I really do miss you gals...
Also, I wanted to play the role of the Observer, so there I was, notebook in hand, and busily jotting down notes about what I saw and felt...
Here goes...
1. Sembawang High Elements
Those I thought were timid, turned out to be brave, and those I thought were brave, turned out to be braver, for they conquered their fear and came up on top, literally, of things.
Nabmo is an outstanding example. A confident, bubbly girl, I never knew she had this thing about heights and wow! Only Allah knows how she conquered those jitters and completed the Jacob's Ladder, which I was told, was the most difficult of the stations there. In fact, two of our primary girls fell through the rungs and had abrasions on their hands. At one point, Nabmo was counting the rungs she had to step on in order to complete the course!
And the Thinker! :) I don't think he quite heard all the encouragements he was getting from below, so focused was he, and so determined to complete the course! At one point, I just wanted to shout to him 'Don't think! Just do it!' Arif, arif...
We all heard Maryam's 'victory' scream...
Harith completed his station in good time..looked pretty confident from down here..
Fathullah, frail-looking that he was, actually was all-hands when it came to relaying the rope and he almost looked like running as he completed the log-like station - Amazing, truly! I remember thinking he must have done this many times before.
Zubair was surely the surprise of the day for me. The nondescript, laidback Exco member surprised me with his gunghoism and he was the first student to go up the Champions Pole after Mr Izzad! Imagine!
Abu, for all his 'giler-ness' (hei, I did not say he was, that was what his friends called him...!), actually looked pretty nervous before he climbed up the Champion's Pole. I was actually worried for him, what with Shah shouting dares at him - challenging him to do pull-ups all the way up there. And yes, he did all fives of those pull-ups! :)
And Sis Faezah! Wow! She really conquered that fear to let go at the end of the course and just, well, let go! Salute to you sis, SALUTE!
Me?? Managed to skip the temptation and encouragement from the kids and did not do the elements. Why? Because the sky is high... ha!ha! I AM afraid of heights...
2. Lifeskills Coaching
I like the 'storm' session best. Noisy, bingit, but best to the max! I must say the Aljunied's Student Counselors were confident, know their stuff well and managed to prod the very shy Irsyadians to participate and open up a little. I identified two who had outstanding leadership qualities, not knowing that these two were actually the Head Student Counselor and Vice Student Counselor. May we have more future collaborations with them...
3. Campfire, turned candlelight, turned Spotlight session
Kudos to the Exco for making this happen. They managed to invite ex-SLs and from the feedback sessions, you can sense that the kids have learnt a lot from the sharing.
Other Observations:
- I like the 'Twister'- like game during Amazing Race - funnn!!!
- I heard different versions of the Night Walk, and since I did not go, I guess I'll have to abstain from any opinions here... :) Just an observation though - I came back on the second day of the camp at about before 8.00 a.m., expecting activity at MPR, but it was so deathly quiet...I was wondering where everybody went when Zaimah pointed out to the Canteen benches and then I saw...-hic- people still sleeping...i hope they don't fall off those benches...
- I like the acting-presentation for the Problem-solving session. Our SLs are a talented lot, no doubt...
- Zulzuwaid was the silent leader - very in control, but very democratic in his leadership style. :)
- Hidayat could hold the audience attention...Good.
- Now I know why Farid would not smile, he did not want to break any hearts, for when he did, the smile really lit up his face! Break more hearts,Farid! :)
- Most hardworking: Hafizz
- Dhania, Hijannah, Hurun, Syairah - Tis okay, you'll be more confident in the next event, insyaAllah -
- Forget about that technical glitch - To the present SL Exco - you people have the makings of a GREAT TEAM! Work on!
Had to leave the photography session because of something back home. I was pretty much worked up that time...very.
All in all, I appreciate all the ground work and recky and thought that has gone into, during and after the camp. Syukran for making it all happened! It was surely an unforgettable experience!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
The Duck and The Devil
Sharing something I received from a colleague:
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.
As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching!
Fatima had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, ‘Fatima, let’s wash the dishes.’ But Fatima said, ‘Grandma, Ahmed told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.’ Then she whispered to him, ‘Remember the duck?’ So Ahmed did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, ‘I’m sorry but I need Fatima to help make supper.’
Fatima just smiled and said, ‘Well, that’s all right because Ahmed told me he wanted to help.’ She whispered again, ‘Remember the duck?’ So Fatima went fishing and Ahmed stayed to help.
After several days of Ahmed doing both his chores and Fatima’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, ‘Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Fatima make a slave of you.’
Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done… and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)…whatever it is…You need to know that Allah was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.
He’s just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.
The great thing about Allah is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by Allah’s grace and mercy that we are saved.
Always remember: Allah is at the window!
Well, its never too late to change.
We're the ones on the losing end if we don't make that change - don't make that effort, don't keep on trying. No matter how hard it is, no matter if no one else believes in us, no one else to support us.
For Allah is always there - always.
There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.
As he was walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching!
Fatima had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, ‘Fatima, let’s wash the dishes.’ But Fatima said, ‘Grandma, Ahmed told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.’ Then she whispered to him, ‘Remember the duck?’ So Ahmed did the dishes.
Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, ‘I’m sorry but I need Fatima to help make supper.’
Fatima just smiled and said, ‘Well, that’s all right because Ahmed told me he wanted to help.’ She whispered again, ‘Remember the duck?’ So Fatima went fishing and Ahmed stayed to help.
After several days of Ahmed doing both his chores and Fatima’s, he finally couldn’t stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, ‘Sweetheart, I know. You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long you would let Fatima make a slave of you.’
Thought for the day and every day thereafter?
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done… and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.)…whatever it is…You need to know that Allah was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.
He’s just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.
The great thing about Allah is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets. It is by Allah’s grace and mercy that we are saved.
Always remember: Allah is at the window!
Well, its never too late to change.
We're the ones on the losing end if we don't make that change - don't make that effort, don't keep on trying. No matter how hard it is, no matter if no one else believes in us, no one else to support us.
For Allah is always there - always.
Si Peminta
Mengemis masa
Menadah kasih
Berlapar bicara
Dahaga rasa
pemahaman
Satu pengertian
sebuah pengorbanan
Satu keredhaan
sebuah ketentuan
Menadah kasih
Berlapar bicara
Dahaga rasa
pemahaman
Satu pengertian
sebuah pengorbanan
Satu keredhaan
sebuah ketentuan
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Cerita Cinta II
Let's talk about friendship.
Good friends are difficult to come by now. And I meant 'good' friends whom you can not only have 'good' times together, but more importantly, 'good' friends who enjoined you to do good and be good - amr' makruf, nahi mungkar.
Alhamdulillah, I had VERY good friends at a time when I needed that guidance most.
When I was in college, and that was a LONG time ago, the wearing of hijab was not only uncommon here, it was looked upon as a step back to some uncultured, barbaric practice. Those who put on hijab have to put up with names like 'kuno' (ancient) and for those who still remember, 'hantu kum kum' (a pun on the salam these people normally give to fellow Muslims).
But my friends were steadfast.
In college, they dared to be different.
Three of them put on the head-cap (serkup), lengthened their skirts and wore long-sleeved blouses to college. Imagine!
When they got into trouble with the college's management, they appealed their case all the way up to the Mufti Office and to the MP.
Suffice to say that, alhamdulillah, the college tolerated them and by Allah's help, they covered their aurah until they completed their college education.
Another friend, who was a Student Counselor, would go to college covering her aurah, put on the school's uniform during school hours, and would change back into her Islamic attire before stepping out of the college's compound.
Such were the friends I had. Alhamdulillah.
We had regular usrahs at the janitor's quarters - a smiling lady who welcomed the company of these giggly girls.
I was, and am still proud, of being a Malay. I was very much into Malay culture then- dikir barat, tarian, in awe with the concept of Malay Sultanate, in 'love' with Hang Jebat, hikayats (legends) - you name it. The regular Malay schoolgirl.
Until one of my usrah friend gently pulled me aside and said I should stop 'tarian'.
I remember feeling angry, saying something like Malay tarian wasn't as provocative as disco dancing.
I remember her smiling, still in a gentle tone, asking me only this:
'Sis, which is more attractive to boys- the unruly steps of the Solid Gold dancers, or the gentle movements of the Malay dance?'
I was stumped. Logically, she was right. That was my last performance.
I was 17 when I wore the hijab for the first time. Though I am very close to my mother, she won't speak to me for the whole day. I don't blame her. She didn't understand. Not like now. :)
My friends hugged me. They were my strength.
What if the strength they have given me was something that could lead to self-destruction? Or to me becoming a nuisance to society?
Bottomline is, stick with friends who remind us to be good. They are brave enough to criticise our wrongdoings and sensitive enough to notice that their friend needed help on the spiritual side. Friends like these are difficult to come by. They are like pearls (lu'luah) hidden, precious... stay with them when you do find them, or when they found you - don't ever let them go!
I am most happy when my sons want to meet up with their madrasah friends - over lunch or for a simple soccer match. Thank you to all their friends who have been the guides in my children's lives...you and I know who you are! Jazakumullahu khairan kathiran...
You might say that some madrasah people are worst than others you know.
Tsk, tsk...
There is a a sufi saying that when a wise man goes astray, await for his return.
Better still, remind him to return - remind him patiently, tactfully and with perseverence. :)
Pak Hamka once said that the person without knowledge will be a better person with knowledge, and the person with knowledge would have been worst without the knowledge.
Knowledge can never be wrong. It is how you use, or don't use it that matters.
Bottomline is, nobody can deny that at those teenage, young adult age, your friends really matters to you. Later, when you reach adulthood, marry and have children, your parents would then become your significant others again. The law of nature, or karma, or 'hukum alam', call it whatever you like - that is how things normally go. ;)
So, have good, lifelong friends.
Friends whom we love and who love us because of Allah.
Friends that would lead us all to Allah's blessings, insyaAllah.
Good friends are difficult to come by now. And I meant 'good' friends whom you can not only have 'good' times together, but more importantly, 'good' friends who enjoined you to do good and be good - amr' makruf, nahi mungkar.
Alhamdulillah, I had VERY good friends at a time when I needed that guidance most.
When I was in college, and that was a LONG time ago, the wearing of hijab was not only uncommon here, it was looked upon as a step back to some uncultured, barbaric practice. Those who put on hijab have to put up with names like 'kuno' (ancient) and for those who still remember, 'hantu kum kum' (a pun on the salam these people normally give to fellow Muslims).
But my friends were steadfast.
In college, they dared to be different.
Three of them put on the head-cap (serkup), lengthened their skirts and wore long-sleeved blouses to college. Imagine!
When they got into trouble with the college's management, they appealed their case all the way up to the Mufti Office and to the MP.
Suffice to say that, alhamdulillah, the college tolerated them and by Allah's help, they covered their aurah until they completed their college education.
Another friend, who was a Student Counselor, would go to college covering her aurah, put on the school's uniform during school hours, and would change back into her Islamic attire before stepping out of the college's compound.
Such were the friends I had. Alhamdulillah.
We had regular usrahs at the janitor's quarters - a smiling lady who welcomed the company of these giggly girls.
I was, and am still proud, of being a Malay. I was very much into Malay culture then- dikir barat, tarian, in awe with the concept of Malay Sultanate, in 'love' with Hang Jebat, hikayats (legends) - you name it. The regular Malay schoolgirl.
Until one of my usrah friend gently pulled me aside and said I should stop 'tarian'.
I remember feeling angry, saying something like Malay tarian wasn't as provocative as disco dancing.
I remember her smiling, still in a gentle tone, asking me only this:
'Sis, which is more attractive to boys- the unruly steps of the Solid Gold dancers, or the gentle movements of the Malay dance?'
I was stumped. Logically, she was right. That was my last performance.
I was 17 when I wore the hijab for the first time. Though I am very close to my mother, she won't speak to me for the whole day. I don't blame her. She didn't understand. Not like now. :)
My friends hugged me. They were my strength.
What if the strength they have given me was something that could lead to self-destruction? Or to me becoming a nuisance to society?
Bottomline is, stick with friends who remind us to be good. They are brave enough to criticise our wrongdoings and sensitive enough to notice that their friend needed help on the spiritual side. Friends like these are difficult to come by. They are like pearls (lu'luah) hidden, precious... stay with them when you do find them, or when they found you - don't ever let them go!
I am most happy when my sons want to meet up with their madrasah friends - over lunch or for a simple soccer match. Thank you to all their friends who have been the guides in my children's lives...you and I know who you are! Jazakumullahu khairan kathiran...
You might say that some madrasah people are worst than others you know.
Tsk, tsk...
There is a a sufi saying that when a wise man goes astray, await for his return.
Better still, remind him to return - remind him patiently, tactfully and with perseverence. :)
Pak Hamka once said that the person without knowledge will be a better person with knowledge, and the person with knowledge would have been worst without the knowledge.
Knowledge can never be wrong. It is how you use, or don't use it that matters.
Bottomline is, nobody can deny that at those teenage, young adult age, your friends really matters to you. Later, when you reach adulthood, marry and have children, your parents would then become your significant others again. The law of nature, or karma, or 'hukum alam', call it whatever you like - that is how things normally go. ;)
So, have good, lifelong friends.
Friends whom we love and who love us because of Allah.
Friends that would lead us all to Allah's blessings, insyaAllah.
Tua dan muda
Anak muda
Biarkan mereka terbang bebas
Di iringi doa langit meluas
Di iringi restu laut mendalam
Dunia ini milik mereka
Hati ini - milik kita
Orang tua
Matanya penuh kenangan
Hatinya penuh harapan
Senyumnya penuh makna
Kerinduan
Biarkan mereka terbang bebas
Di iringi doa langit meluas
Di iringi restu laut mendalam
Dunia ini milik mereka
Hati ini - milik kita
Orang tua
Matanya penuh kenangan
Hatinya penuh harapan
Senyumnya penuh makna
Kerinduan
Friday, December 11, 2009
Everything they do is sadaqah...
Been very busy lately.
Nothing much. Just doing household chores.
And household chores.
And more household chores.
They never end - these chores.
And very demanding too - you must do the routine, the exact way, everytime, or risk not completing the job properly.
Wish somebody has a formula on how to complete these chores in a jiffy.
Problem is, there is no shortcut to doing household chores.
Asam pedas must be cooked in the exact manner in order for it to taste just so hot and soury, one would have to wash the laundry, hang them to dry, then neatly folded and arranged in the wardrobe - everything has its own regiment that must be followed.
It is almost military-like and most regimental in its manner of execution these chores.
And really, a housewife duties is never done until she closes her eyes to sleep...
(there will always be -'Mom, can make me some Milo? Dear, can cook some Maggie for me?)
And the next morning, when she wakes up, the whole thing is repeated again.
Which is why my upmost admiration and salute goes to all full-time housewives in this world...
Your job is the most mundane, but the most important of all -
You put food on the table so that your family can enjoy that dinner get-together -
You dusted and swept the house so that your family come back to a clean, comfortable den to sleep, play and study in..
You washed, folded, ironed and arranged the clothes so that your family will always have that new, nicely smelt clothes to put on the next day..
MasyaAllah!
No wonder Allah has promised all wives that whatever they do and give to their husband, out of sincerity, is considered sadaqah, whereas the bread put by the husband on the table is their responsibility!
Without leaving her house, without having to take up arms, a wife is blessed by Allah when she gives service to her family.. :)
I am not a full-time housewife..
I am all fingers when it comes to household chores.
Honestly, I am happier holding a pen than a ladle... :)
I still hoped and prayed though, that Allah would place me among all those wonderful women (my mum being one of them) as one who has given service to her family...in some other ways other than doing household chores.
Amin. :)
Nothing much. Just doing household chores.
And household chores.
And more household chores.
They never end - these chores.
And very demanding too - you must do the routine, the exact way, everytime, or risk not completing the job properly.
Wish somebody has a formula on how to complete these chores in a jiffy.
Problem is, there is no shortcut to doing household chores.
Asam pedas must be cooked in the exact manner in order for it to taste just so hot and soury, one would have to wash the laundry, hang them to dry, then neatly folded and arranged in the wardrobe - everything has its own regiment that must be followed.
It is almost military-like and most regimental in its manner of execution these chores.
And really, a housewife duties is never done until she closes her eyes to sleep...
(there will always be -'Mom, can make me some Milo? Dear, can cook some Maggie for me?)
And the next morning, when she wakes up, the whole thing is repeated again.
Which is why my upmost admiration and salute goes to all full-time housewives in this world...
Your job is the most mundane, but the most important of all -
You put food on the table so that your family can enjoy that dinner get-together -
You dusted and swept the house so that your family come back to a clean, comfortable den to sleep, play and study in..
You washed, folded, ironed and arranged the clothes so that your family will always have that new, nicely smelt clothes to put on the next day..
MasyaAllah!
No wonder Allah has promised all wives that whatever they do and give to their husband, out of sincerity, is considered sadaqah, whereas the bread put by the husband on the table is their responsibility!
Without leaving her house, without having to take up arms, a wife is blessed by Allah when she gives service to her family.. :)
I am not a full-time housewife..
I am all fingers when it comes to household chores.
Honestly, I am happier holding a pen than a ladle... :)
I still hoped and prayed though, that Allah would place me among all those wonderful women (my mum being one of them) as one who has given service to her family...in some other ways other than doing household chores.
Amin. :)
Monday, November 30, 2009
Ketika Dia berbicara...
Dengarkanlah
Ketika Dia berbicara...
ketika waktu solat teralpa
ketika solat tahajjud terlena
ketika hati sedih tak keruan
ketika rindu serbu mengundang
ketika diri bertanya - 'dosakah aku -?'
dicelah-celah kegembiraan dan keramaian dunia -
dengarkanlah
Itu ketika Dia berbicara....
Ketika Dia berbicara...
ketika waktu solat teralpa
ketika solat tahajjud terlena
ketika hati sedih tak keruan
ketika rindu serbu mengundang
ketika diri bertanya - 'dosakah aku -?'
dicelah-celah kegembiraan dan keramaian dunia -
dengarkanlah
Itu ketika Dia berbicara....
Sunday, November 29, 2009
And they really came....
It was a surreal Saturday the 28th November 2009.
Firstly, it was just a day after Hari Raya Aidil Adha, which meant we were still in hari tasriq (did I spell this correctly?) I did worry and prayed that we would not do anything that would tarnish these blessed days....
Secondly, I cannot imagine that any parents would really allow their children to cross the straits just to ziarah their teacher and to bond with their friends. I can't imagine these girls and guys 'terlepas' out of Singapore...
Thirdly, Hadi, the veritable gentleman, who always worried about his mother's safety, became worried sick when he knew at least twelve girls were coming to JB! He can't imagine being a bodyguard to all of them! Not that they asked for it, I know...
Fourthly, how do we ferry 21 young people in and out of JB? My gallant husband and Halim were the answers - they became chauffeurs for the rest of the day. Thanks guys! :) And I was told that Halim was sooo comfortable in his role that he doubled as a tourist guide as well...
In the end, I guess, it was by Allah's will that all 21 of them ended at Taman Perling. :)
And what a day it was!
I am touched to know that the kids woke up pretty early, just so they won't miss the KTM train. Then, apparently, they had to brave the smoky air and the cockroaches, and being asked to vacate their seats so they ended up somewhere at the end of the cabin, I was told. Alhamdulillah you all landed safely at Danga Mall, and did not actually overshot all the way to KL....
Also, I can't imagine how you people actually carried that very lovely but heavy hamper all the way across the seas! Thanks a million for that! The sarsi we drank for dinner was from that hamper... I ctually wanted to laugh out when I saw the hamper - so the 'makcik-makcik'! I wonder whose idea it was...hmm
Many,many memories... :)
-A'lim had to take the bus on his own and I worried whether he'll lost his way. Alhamdulillah, he did not... :)
-Oh! I did not know the girls were so frightened of ghosts! really, faatinah! and maryam, too! and dayah tapa, who was already threatening and begging the rest to send her home to her doorsteps! Best!!! Maryam was normally the icon of control and command in the class and it was sooo great to see her laughing her head off when the pontianak got electrocuted by lightning....yah, lame wasn't it, maryam? and I shan't tell you the boy behind me who was 'frightened' too... :)
-Bowling was, in the kids' lingo - AWESOME! we hit more 'longkangs' then strikes! It was also only my second time at bowling and I hit A strike! :) Maiira was pretty good for the girls, and I think for the boys, it was Arif (that's what my husband told me). Oh! thank you Nabmo and Nabjo for 'teaching' Nina how to bowl! I would have uploaded that video in Facebook if not for the sickeningly slow connection...
-Archery! Ehem..have never seen 'abang-abang archery' so full of vigour and spirit in discharging their duties! 'Semangat sangat!!!'
-Thoroughly enjoyed the karaoke session, though i did not sing. It was a really 'pecah perut' and almost 'pecah ear-drum' session. :) Humps...i mean, hmmmm..You people really know how to enjoy yourselves! ;) 'Baru ku tahu siapa ummi bila mikrofon dalam genggaman'... :)
-Arif hit his elbow accidentally at a table and had a cut. Wasn't deep, but ugly enough. He was washing it so thoroughly that I thought he was taking a bath and needed a towel...
-And Harris helped wash the Corningware pot.. :)
-And Abu said the azan so loudly at the kitchen, I thought he saw something or other...and it wasn't even marghrib yet!
-Fatin and syikin will be my ofiicial babysitter if I ever need one - they were superb!
-Maiira must be any mother's pet - she was at the kitchen, helping out confidently -'ringan tangan'...
-thanks Raje for helping me with the buffet wicks and containers. The next time you come, i will cook rice just for you... ")
-I also did not know that hot briyani beef can make someone jump up and down in an effort to beat the hotness! -hic- Afwan dear, next time I'll chastised the mamak for putting in WHOLE BLACK PEPPERS in the gravy....this is generosity gone very wrong...
-Back home for asar and marghrib, the girls used my room to rest, relax and ibadah. I enjoyed this quiet moment thoroughly. I still could not believe they were there, in my room, praying together.
-And the boys prayed marghrib berjemaah right ouside our room, at our family space too. Subhanallah! :)
-Oh! the playground thingy that night was really an X-rated affair - the girls had HUGE fun...I almost got worried that they'll tear down the swings and the see-saw! MasyaAllah, you don't want to know what they did, really!!! And don't worry, i will not tell anyone should the playground be 'unplayable' the day after!
-And imagine 5 girls squeezed on ONE seat? -hic- Unbelievable....
-Thank you to the kind soul who gave us a packet of sushi. They were delicious.
-In the end, the boys were put into cabs, because the CIQ was far and my husband did not want them to go home late. Thanks dear! :)
It was, all in all, an unforgettable get together.
The next day, Sunday, we sent Hadi to meet his JC friends for their school trip to Hj Dorani's homestay.
My husband saw his friends and the girls and remarked how different they were from the Irsyadians. :)
Ya Allah! May we meet because of our love for You, and depart for Your sake and may You bless this ukhwah and make us among those whom You protect and forgive - dunia and akhirat, amin.
Firstly, it was just a day after Hari Raya Aidil Adha, which meant we were still in hari tasriq (did I spell this correctly?) I did worry and prayed that we would not do anything that would tarnish these blessed days....
Secondly, I cannot imagine that any parents would really allow their children to cross the straits just to ziarah their teacher and to bond with their friends. I can't imagine these girls and guys 'terlepas' out of Singapore...
Thirdly, Hadi, the veritable gentleman, who always worried about his mother's safety, became worried sick when he knew at least twelve girls were coming to JB! He can't imagine being a bodyguard to all of them! Not that they asked for it, I know...
Fourthly, how do we ferry 21 young people in and out of JB? My gallant husband and Halim were the answers - they became chauffeurs for the rest of the day. Thanks guys! :) And I was told that Halim was sooo comfortable in his role that he doubled as a tourist guide as well...
In the end, I guess, it was by Allah's will that all 21 of them ended at Taman Perling. :)
And what a day it was!
I am touched to know that the kids woke up pretty early, just so they won't miss the KTM train. Then, apparently, they had to brave the smoky air and the cockroaches, and being asked to vacate their seats so they ended up somewhere at the end of the cabin, I was told. Alhamdulillah you all landed safely at Danga Mall, and did not actually overshot all the way to KL....
Also, I can't imagine how you people actually carried that very lovely but heavy hamper all the way across the seas! Thanks a million for that! The sarsi we drank for dinner was from that hamper... I ctually wanted to laugh out when I saw the hamper - so the 'makcik-makcik'! I wonder whose idea it was...hmm
Many,many memories... :)
-A'lim had to take the bus on his own and I worried whether he'll lost his way. Alhamdulillah, he did not... :)
-Oh! I did not know the girls were so frightened of ghosts! really, faatinah! and maryam, too! and dayah tapa, who was already threatening and begging the rest to send her home to her doorsteps! Best!!! Maryam was normally the icon of control and command in the class and it was sooo great to see her laughing her head off when the pontianak got electrocuted by lightning....yah, lame wasn't it, maryam? and I shan't tell you the boy behind me who was 'frightened' too... :)
-Bowling was, in the kids' lingo - AWESOME! we hit more 'longkangs' then strikes! It was also only my second time at bowling and I hit A strike! :) Maiira was pretty good for the girls, and I think for the boys, it was Arif (that's what my husband told me). Oh! thank you Nabmo and Nabjo for 'teaching' Nina how to bowl! I would have uploaded that video in Facebook if not for the sickeningly slow connection...
-Archery! Ehem..have never seen 'abang-abang archery' so full of vigour and spirit in discharging their duties! 'Semangat sangat!!!'
-Thoroughly enjoyed the karaoke session, though i did not sing. It was a really 'pecah perut' and almost 'pecah ear-drum' session. :) Humps...i mean, hmmmm..You people really know how to enjoy yourselves! ;) 'Baru ku tahu siapa ummi bila mikrofon dalam genggaman'... :)
-Arif hit his elbow accidentally at a table and had a cut. Wasn't deep, but ugly enough. He was washing it so thoroughly that I thought he was taking a bath and needed a towel...
-And Harris helped wash the Corningware pot.. :)
-And Abu said the azan so loudly at the kitchen, I thought he saw something or other...and it wasn't even marghrib yet!
-Fatin and syikin will be my ofiicial babysitter if I ever need one - they were superb!
-Maiira must be any mother's pet - she was at the kitchen, helping out confidently -'ringan tangan'...
-thanks Raje for helping me with the buffet wicks and containers. The next time you come, i will cook rice just for you... ")
-I also did not know that hot briyani beef can make someone jump up and down in an effort to beat the hotness! -hic- Afwan dear, next time I'll chastised the mamak for putting in WHOLE BLACK PEPPERS in the gravy....this is generosity gone very wrong...
-Back home for asar and marghrib, the girls used my room to rest, relax and ibadah. I enjoyed this quiet moment thoroughly. I still could not believe they were there, in my room, praying together.
-And the boys prayed marghrib berjemaah right ouside our room, at our family space too. Subhanallah! :)
-Oh! the playground thingy that night was really an X-rated affair - the girls had HUGE fun...I almost got worried that they'll tear down the swings and the see-saw! MasyaAllah, you don't want to know what they did, really!!! And don't worry, i will not tell anyone should the playground be 'unplayable' the day after!
-And imagine 5 girls squeezed on ONE seat? -hic- Unbelievable....
-Thank you to the kind soul who gave us a packet of sushi. They were delicious.
-In the end, the boys were put into cabs, because the CIQ was far and my husband did not want them to go home late. Thanks dear! :)
It was, all in all, an unforgettable get together.
The next day, Sunday, we sent Hadi to meet his JC friends for their school trip to Hj Dorani's homestay.
My husband saw his friends and the girls and remarked how different they were from the Irsyadians. :)
Ya Allah! May we meet because of our love for You, and depart for Your sake and may You bless this ukhwah and make us among those whom You protect and forgive - dunia and akhirat, amin.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
There we go again...
It had been slightly a week since the thought-provoking Tuesday post, and we are slapped with another case - this time the death of a six year old boy in the hands of his caregiver. If the boy in the previous post had his life packed in a suitcase, well, this poor boy was literally packed in a suitcase....dry humour? wry sarcasm? try revoltness to the max, regret to the max and a sadness that could not translate into words... another 'classic' case of a young marriage, birth out of wedlock, drug addiction, caregivers working to support ends meet, absent parents...Ya Allah! the list goes on...
Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul
(it is heartwrenching to see the grandmother holding tightly to the boy's t-shirt and kissing it...painful, just too painful to see and to imagine...
it is too easy to blame the mother, the grandmother, everyone who should have been there for the boy but chose to let him wander alone at the playground until late at night...
life is never that easy to explain and to find solutions.... Nobody in their right mind would think that the grandmother was a heartless, unthinking and uncaring person..nobody ask for such a thing to happen to his family..)
Please, please don't say 'Sudah takdir'....yes, it is ' fated to be this way, but could we have taken precautions, care a little bit more, monitor a little bit more, BE MORE RESPONSIBLE, so that when we say 'Sudah takdir', it really means that we have done our human best to be the best to those under our charge....? When are we going to stop being apologetic to all negativities around us and start OWNING UP, that this problem, is OUR PROBLEM, not only the problem of a particular group?
One hopes that this mindlessness will end here, the buck stops here...
Ya Allah, please avert all of us from such a fate. Please. Amin.
Statistics have shown that those who marry young, will normally end up in a divorce:
Please don't marry young!
Statistics have shown a marriage will most likely be rocky and end in a divorce if the parents are not financially stable:
Please be financially stable before you take the akad!
Statistics have shown that an abused child will tend to abuse his own children:
Please be aware of this and if you are affected, GET OUT of the vicious cycle!
Statistics have shown that if the woman is more intelligent than the husband, a divorce is NOT likely to happen.
Please don't be egoistic! Appreciate a woman's intelligence!
Bottomline is, marriage is not just about love and protecting oneself from the sins of lust. Marriage is also about the roof over the head, the bread on the table, the sleep lost with the arrival of the baby, soiled diapers and sometimes, yes, shattered personal dream of that Master's degree, of that promotion which would mean less family time. And yes, marriage is also about changes - your status, your spending power, your independence and yes, it is also about personality changes people go through - all these, without maturity, without stability, can create havoc in the family. The family is the basic unit of a society. A broken family is a chip breaking off from society . Anything happening to the family will eventually affect the community as well.
Yes,i know...easier said than done.
But at least, the words are spoken, and may good words become doas that will bring goodness in the end. Amin.
Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul
(it is heartwrenching to see the grandmother holding tightly to the boy's t-shirt and kissing it...painful, just too painful to see and to imagine...
it is too easy to blame the mother, the grandmother, everyone who should have been there for the boy but chose to let him wander alone at the playground until late at night...
life is never that easy to explain and to find solutions.... Nobody in their right mind would think that the grandmother was a heartless, unthinking and uncaring person..nobody ask for such a thing to happen to his family..)
Please, please don't say 'Sudah takdir'....yes, it is ' fated to be this way, but could we have taken precautions, care a little bit more, monitor a little bit more, BE MORE RESPONSIBLE, so that when we say 'Sudah takdir', it really means that we have done our human best to be the best to those under our charge....? When are we going to stop being apologetic to all negativities around us and start OWNING UP, that this problem, is OUR PROBLEM, not only the problem of a particular group?
One hopes that this mindlessness will end here, the buck stops here...
Ya Allah, please avert all of us from such a fate. Please. Amin.
Statistics have shown that those who marry young, will normally end up in a divorce:
Please don't marry young!
Statistics have shown a marriage will most likely be rocky and end in a divorce if the parents are not financially stable:
Please be financially stable before you take the akad!
Statistics have shown that an abused child will tend to abuse his own children:
Please be aware of this and if you are affected, GET OUT of the vicious cycle!
Statistics have shown that if the woman is more intelligent than the husband, a divorce is NOT likely to happen.
Please don't be egoistic! Appreciate a woman's intelligence!
Bottomline is, marriage is not just about love and protecting oneself from the sins of lust. Marriage is also about the roof over the head, the bread on the table, the sleep lost with the arrival of the baby, soiled diapers and sometimes, yes, shattered personal dream of that Master's degree, of that promotion which would mean less family time. And yes, marriage is also about changes - your status, your spending power, your independence and yes, it is also about personality changes people go through - all these, without maturity, without stability, can create havoc in the family. The family is the basic unit of a society. A broken family is a chip breaking off from society . Anything happening to the family will eventually affect the community as well.
Yes,i know...easier said than done.
But at least, the words are spoken, and may good words become doas that will bring goodness in the end. Amin.
May Allah give patience to Edy's family...As for the late Edy,we all know WHERE he is now - a better place, insyaAllah.
As for the fate of his 'murderer'? Well, let that be Allah's affair...
Monday, November 23, 2009
Menyendiri
Ya Allah
Izinkan aku berlari
Jauh dari kepalsuan
Jauh dari kehinaan
Jauh dari kemungkaran
Ya Allah
Izinkan aku bersembunyi
Dalam tenang, hening
Kesucian
Kepasrahan
Ketawakalan
KEBENARAN
Aku rela sendiri
Dari beramai
Dalam kedustaan
Izinkan aku berlari
Jauh dari kepalsuan
Jauh dari kehinaan
Jauh dari kemungkaran
Ya Allah
Izinkan aku bersembunyi
Dalam tenang, hening
Kesucian
Kepasrahan
Ketawakalan
KEBENARAN
Aku rela sendiri
Dari beramai
Dalam kedustaan
Friday, November 20, 2009
Sports Day 2009
First and foremost, it was the most fun sports day ever! Really.
And not because I was the Asst. Judge for the day.... I bet I was one of the blurrest judges around...but it was still fun! Especially the teachers' relay. We took almost fifteen minutes to get the equipment ready, bombarded poor Faezah with endless questions, had about THREE runs of the relay and when it finally started, it took slightly more than five minutes to complete! And we won! EARTH won! Unbelievable! -blink,blink-!!
There were heart-stopping moments though. It was difficult for me to disqualify the Fire team because TWICE they pass the baton outside of the passing zone. The girls were dropping their batons like hot potatoes. It was tiring, but really great to walk around that big,big field - many, many times. In the morning sun, it just felt great to feel your legs and to feel alive... alhamdulillah. :)
Then the boys came in and it was cheering time to the max. Earth was led by Khairul and Mas and Lino. We sure have speedtrains in the likes of Fatris, Hidayat and I daresay Abu, included, though his passing the baton and falling off the lane was tragic - imagine him going at full speed, leading the pack, and then desperately trying to pass the baton to the next Earth runner, who was himself going off at full speed - funny to see the runner trying to catch another runner and well, when both slowed down, of course both collided and there you are - one runner off the track and disqualification... But the team more than made up for it in the next event, alhamdulillah... :)
And. oh! how proud to see Hafiz run for the first time! He started slow in the 100m race, picking up speed towards the finishing line. But he was much, much better in the next two races, and I dare say, not as a mother, but as a teacher, that he has lots of potential in him. Yes sirreee! :)
If you asked me, however, the Man of the Match, honestly, would go to The Thinker. He was running like his life depended on it, helping Water narrow the gap and himself coming in first in his events - I have never seen Arif run like that before! :)
And yes, all our dear students had a free sun-tanning time during the prize-giving ceremony while I had the time of my life catching up with Amirah Sumardi and Siti Fatimah. Shhhh..women's talk..don't worry, Fatimah, your secret's safe with me...isn't the Muslim a tomb of all secrets confided in him? -wink-
And oh! to meet again some of the S5 09 people was the bonus of it all..great to know you are all still alive and kicking!!! these were people i saw : The guys (Muhammad, you tried your best, Sufian, Shah (you looked pensive), Irshad, Harith, Hafidz, Syaraf (congrats, congrats, congrats Captain!), Haykal (cilipadi), Dayah Raje with a feather in her cap, i mean tudung (?), Maryam, Nabmo, Ummi, Fatinah the runners, i saw Hannah, Syafiq, Lyna (missss you, girrl), Dayah Tapa (sorry about the going home part..), sweet Maira....Mahmudah (don't be sad, okay?), and the Vice-Captains: Dyja and Nad! :) But we really haad to go, right, Lino? :))
Congrats WIND for being overall champions, Water for Boys' champion (Siapa yang usaha, pasti berjaya, insyaAllah...right, Captain Siraj?) and EARTH for coming in third overall! Alhamdulillah!
Yes, it was the most fun sports day ever.
Thank you Allah. :)
And not because I was the Asst. Judge for the day.... I bet I was one of the blurrest judges around...but it was still fun! Especially the teachers' relay. We took almost fifteen minutes to get the equipment ready, bombarded poor Faezah with endless questions, had about THREE runs of the relay and when it finally started, it took slightly more than five minutes to complete! And we won! EARTH won! Unbelievable! -blink,blink-!!
There were heart-stopping moments though. It was difficult for me to disqualify the Fire team because TWICE they pass the baton outside of the passing zone. The girls were dropping their batons like hot potatoes. It was tiring, but really great to walk around that big,big field - many, many times. In the morning sun, it just felt great to feel your legs and to feel alive... alhamdulillah. :)
Then the boys came in and it was cheering time to the max. Earth was led by Khairul and Mas and Lino. We sure have speedtrains in the likes of Fatris, Hidayat and I daresay Abu, included, though his passing the baton and falling off the lane was tragic - imagine him going at full speed, leading the pack, and then desperately trying to pass the baton to the next Earth runner, who was himself going off at full speed - funny to see the runner trying to catch another runner and well, when both slowed down, of course both collided and there you are - one runner off the track and disqualification... But the team more than made up for it in the next event, alhamdulillah... :)
And. oh! how proud to see Hafiz run for the first time! He started slow in the 100m race, picking up speed towards the finishing line. But he was much, much better in the next two races, and I dare say, not as a mother, but as a teacher, that he has lots of potential in him. Yes sirreee! :)
If you asked me, however, the Man of the Match, honestly, would go to The Thinker. He was running like his life depended on it, helping Water narrow the gap and himself coming in first in his events - I have never seen Arif run like that before! :)
And yes, all our dear students had a free sun-tanning time during the prize-giving ceremony while I had the time of my life catching up with Amirah Sumardi and Siti Fatimah. Shhhh..women's talk..don't worry, Fatimah, your secret's safe with me...isn't the Muslim a tomb of all secrets confided in him? -wink-
And oh! to meet again some of the S5 09 people was the bonus of it all..great to know you are all still alive and kicking!!! these were people i saw : The guys (Muhammad, you tried your best, Sufian, Shah (you looked pensive), Irshad, Harith, Hafidz, Syaraf (congrats, congrats, congrats Captain!), Haykal (cilipadi), Dayah Raje with a feather in her cap, i mean tudung (?), Maryam, Nabmo, Ummi, Fatinah the runners, i saw Hannah, Syafiq, Lyna (missss you, girrl), Dayah Tapa (sorry about the going home part..), sweet Maira....Mahmudah (don't be sad, okay?), and the Vice-Captains: Dyja and Nad! :) But we really haad to go, right, Lino? :))
Congrats WIND for being overall champions, Water for Boys' champion (Siapa yang usaha, pasti berjaya, insyaAllah...right, Captain Siraj?) and EARTH for coming in third overall! Alhamdulillah!
Yes, it was the most fun sports day ever.
Thank you Allah. :)
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Think about it....
17.11.2009
Tuesday
It has been a thought-provoking Tuesday.
Case 1
Our PD shared about the plight of a P5 Muslimah in a national school. Her father is a Muslim, a foreigner. Her mother is a non-Muslim, a local. Don't ask how they were married. Point is, she became the brunt of cruel jokes from her friends due to her background. That is not the end of it. Her parents divorced recently. Her father went back to his native country, leaving this underaged girl with her mother. Her mother puts her up for adoption, requesting that her foster parents be of the same religion as her. Imagine. A P5 Muslimah, trying hard to keep her faith, but is fighting a losing battle. Her foster parents do not stop her from practising her religion, but is not being encouraging either. Like in the month of Ramadhan, they of course did not wake her up for saum, nor prepare iftar for her.
She became the outcast of her own people when she did not fast.
Point is, where are all the self-groups who professed to fight for the interest and well-being of others ? There are a few red tapes to clear. Who will take the cause of this mere 11 year old Muslimah and be her champion? Who?
I have no answer.
Nor, (and I am ashamed to say this) am i her Champion.
Case 2
One of our own P4 student lost his mother to cancer a year ago. He never saw his biological father and had looked up to his doting stepfather as a real dad. But of late, his uniform was unironed when he turned up to school and friends reported him as not having breakfast nor pocket money to school. The worst was yet to come. We just found out recently that his stepfather was going to remarry and did not want him in the picture. Period. He was so adamant not to have this poor boy in his new family, that he actually packed this boy's clothes in a suitcase and left him, all alone at an MRT station. Yes. A 10 year old boy, with no mother, no home, alone with his life packed in his suitcase. He luckily had the mind to call up his grandmother, who came and took him home. He is now living with his uncle. From a quiet and docile boy, this boy has learnt to pull punches on his friends.
What would have happened if even his grandmother would not accept him?
I have no answer.
Just a deep sense of shame of the 'emotional cruelty' that a so called adult Muslim can do to a defenseless, 10 year old boy.
Case 3 (and all these happened on the same day!)
I was going to park my car by the roadside to get to a nearby bank atm when i noticed a traffic policeman by the side. Cursing my luck, i had to park inside the Interchange and had to walk a long distance to the bank. On my way back, and still thinking (!) about the policeman, two boys stopped me. They could not be more than 11 year olds. They carried what looked like camping bags, complete with nicely rolled up sleeping bags. This is roughly what transpired between us:
Boy 1 (has a very earnest look) : Cik, cik...cik ada dua fifty-cents tak? Boleh pinjam?
Me (giving my sternest look) : Untuk ape?
Boy 1 (still looking earnest) : Kite nak balik tapi tak cukup duit.. (at this point, he dropped a ten-cent coin)
I sighed.
Boy 1 : Tadi kita minta nyonya gemuk tu, tapi dia tak kasi.
Me (giving my sternest voice) : Yelah, awak minta orang duit, mana orang nak kasi!
I sat down at a nearby bench, rummaged through my coin box and took out a one dollar coin.
Me : Ok. Cik takde fifty-cents dua - ini cukup kan?
At this point, both looked at me with a confused expression.
Boy 1: cukup...saya tinggal Yishun...kawan saya ni tinggal Tampines...
Me (almost shouting): T-am-pi-nes! Kenapa jauh sangat?
Boy 1: Kita pergi camping kat Sentosa, teacher tinggalkan kat sini....
I sat down, took out another one dollar coin, took out fifty-five cents in two sets, and gave each of them $1.55. Yes. I felt so cheap...
Me: Okay, ambil duit ni, pergi balik terus, okay? Jangan pergi mane-mane lagi.awak tahu tak balik Tampines?
Boy 2: Tahu, naik bas -
Boy 1: Cik, ambillah duit ni -(he was trying to give me his last 10 cent coin)
I shook my head.
The last I saw them, they gave me a long, kind-of-grateful look.
I cried as i drove back to my mum's place. Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
If they had been my children, i surely hoped that some kind soul would help them go back home.
Why had their parents allowed them to go camping and expect them to go home by themselves?
Why didn't I call up their parents first, to inform that their children were going home?
Why had the teacher just left them there?!
Again, I have no answers.
Are these yet some more tales of how our people take care of their progeny? Young couple not mature enough to look after an unplanned pregnancy? Parents too busy trying to make ends meet to fully monitor the movement of their children?
What can we do to help?
If we are not part of the solution,
then we are part of the problem.
Think about it.
Or in the words of one wise Tok Karut -
Fikir-fikirkan lah...
I have no answers.
Tuesday
It has been a thought-provoking Tuesday.
Case 1
Our PD shared about the plight of a P5 Muslimah in a national school. Her father is a Muslim, a foreigner. Her mother is a non-Muslim, a local. Don't ask how they were married. Point is, she became the brunt of cruel jokes from her friends due to her background. That is not the end of it. Her parents divorced recently. Her father went back to his native country, leaving this underaged girl with her mother. Her mother puts her up for adoption, requesting that her foster parents be of the same religion as her. Imagine. A P5 Muslimah, trying hard to keep her faith, but is fighting a losing battle. Her foster parents do not stop her from practising her religion, but is not being encouraging either. Like in the month of Ramadhan, they of course did not wake her up for saum, nor prepare iftar for her.
She became the outcast of her own people when she did not fast.
Point is, where are all the self-groups who professed to fight for the interest and well-being of others ? There are a few red tapes to clear. Who will take the cause of this mere 11 year old Muslimah and be her champion? Who?
I have no answer.
Nor, (and I am ashamed to say this) am i her Champion.
Case 2
One of our own P4 student lost his mother to cancer a year ago. He never saw his biological father and had looked up to his doting stepfather as a real dad. But of late, his uniform was unironed when he turned up to school and friends reported him as not having breakfast nor pocket money to school. The worst was yet to come. We just found out recently that his stepfather was going to remarry and did not want him in the picture. Period. He was so adamant not to have this poor boy in his new family, that he actually packed this boy's clothes in a suitcase and left him, all alone at an MRT station. Yes. A 10 year old boy, with no mother, no home, alone with his life packed in his suitcase. He luckily had the mind to call up his grandmother, who came and took him home. He is now living with his uncle. From a quiet and docile boy, this boy has learnt to pull punches on his friends.
What would have happened if even his grandmother would not accept him?
I have no answer.
Just a deep sense of shame of the 'emotional cruelty' that a so called adult Muslim can do to a defenseless, 10 year old boy.
Case 3 (and all these happened on the same day!)
I was going to park my car by the roadside to get to a nearby bank atm when i noticed a traffic policeman by the side. Cursing my luck, i had to park inside the Interchange and had to walk a long distance to the bank. On my way back, and still thinking (!) about the policeman, two boys stopped me. They could not be more than 11 year olds. They carried what looked like camping bags, complete with nicely rolled up sleeping bags. This is roughly what transpired between us:
Boy 1 (has a very earnest look) : Cik, cik...cik ada dua fifty-cents tak? Boleh pinjam?
Me (giving my sternest look) : Untuk ape?
Boy 1 (still looking earnest) : Kite nak balik tapi tak cukup duit.. (at this point, he dropped a ten-cent coin)
I sighed.
Boy 1 : Tadi kita minta nyonya gemuk tu, tapi dia tak kasi.
Me (giving my sternest voice) : Yelah, awak minta orang duit, mana orang nak kasi!
I sat down at a nearby bench, rummaged through my coin box and took out a one dollar coin.
Me : Ok. Cik takde fifty-cents dua - ini cukup kan?
At this point, both looked at me with a confused expression.
Boy 1: cukup...saya tinggal Yishun...kawan saya ni tinggal Tampines...
Me (almost shouting): T-am-pi-nes! Kenapa jauh sangat?
Boy 1: Kita pergi camping kat Sentosa, teacher tinggalkan kat sini....
I sat down, took out another one dollar coin, took out fifty-five cents in two sets, and gave each of them $1.55. Yes. I felt so cheap...
Me: Okay, ambil duit ni, pergi balik terus, okay? Jangan pergi mane-mane lagi.awak tahu tak balik Tampines?
Boy 2: Tahu, naik bas -
Boy 1: Cik, ambillah duit ni -(he was trying to give me his last 10 cent coin)
I shook my head.
The last I saw them, they gave me a long, kind-of-grateful look.
I cried as i drove back to my mum's place. Maybe this was the straw that broke the camel's back.
If they had been my children, i surely hoped that some kind soul would help them go back home.
Why had their parents allowed them to go camping and expect them to go home by themselves?
Why didn't I call up their parents first, to inform that their children were going home?
Why had the teacher just left them there?!
Again, I have no answers.
Are these yet some more tales of how our people take care of their progeny? Young couple not mature enough to look after an unplanned pregnancy? Parents too busy trying to make ends meet to fully monitor the movement of their children?
What can we do to help?
If we are not part of the solution,
then we are part of the problem.
Think about it.
Or in the words of one wise Tok Karut -
Fikir-fikirkan lah...
I have no answers.
Incognito
There are feelings you
can't really explain
and care not to explain -
There are feelings you
need not explain.
There are feelings you
MUST NOT explain...
and must NEVER be explained
Ever
Let it be.
This too will pass
It will surely pass
It MUST pass
can't really explain
and care not to explain -
There are feelings you
need not explain.
There are feelings you
MUST NOT explain...
and must NEVER be explained
Ever
Let it be.
This too will pass
It will surely pass
It MUST pass
Sunday, November 8, 2009
'You write like an RJC student...'
After thinking and thinking :), I think there'll be more good than bad to have this post, so here goes:
Conversation between Hadi's Geography Tutor and him:
GT: You're very quiet, gentle and intelligent...
Hadi: (smiling and saying something unintelligible back)
GT: I've read your paper and you write like an RJC student..
Hadi: (smiling and saying something unintelligible back)
GT: Must participate more in class, share the gems in your head...
Hadi: (smiling and still saying something unintelligible back)
Alhamdulillah...
Well, that's Hadi for you - in public. However, at home...hmm, well, my samurai-sword-wielding son....
To all madrasah students out there, including my sons, be confident.
You're as good as the rest, if not better.
Make small ripples first in the national arena, those ripples will cause beautiful waves soon enough.
History is witness to that.
Tengku Syamil is now Mr President of the Malay people in TPJC. Saiful Firdaus is one of the top students in his cohort too- he has been sent overseas for study programme attachments, the latest being to Hong Kong. Atiq is the best student for his year, winning the Dean's Award. I remember Ma'mum - shy but artistic. He left us to become a Student Leader and a top student in Art in his school. Halim's confident (and entertaining..) oratorical skills have made his lecturer commented on the quality of madrasah students. He scored a distinction with credit in his 'A' Level Malay Oral examination. Sis Syifa' Mansur is now in UK, on a scholarship. And I am sure, somewhere out there, we have our dear twins, making their mark quietly at SAJC.
The list goes on.
Point is, you don't have to be like the rest in order to achieve. You don't have to use the lingo -curses nor the swearing nor the multi-coloured eyelenses in order to make your mark, to feel belong. There's either too much respect for you out there, or too much misunderstanding.
You must earn that respect and correct that misunderstanding.
There is a lot of goodness out there too. A lot. Observe and learn from people. Sieve, collate, synergize the inputs. You will be a better person, insyaAllah.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, just remember who you are.
You'll always have the madrasah's institution to your name- tagged to that student particulars form and tagged to that job application form you'll be filling up, for example.
It can be a curse, if you deny that existence, that past.
Or a blessing, for it will always remind you of who you are, why you are here.
Remember who you are, always. ")
So people - in the name of Allah and for the sake of Allah - go out there with grace and tawakal, make your mark and make it well.
Do good.
Be good.
Conversation between Hadi's Geography Tutor and him:
GT: You're very quiet, gentle and intelligent...
Hadi: (smiling and saying something unintelligible back)
GT: I've read your paper and you write like an RJC student..
Hadi: (smiling and saying something unintelligible back)
GT: Must participate more in class, share the gems in your head...
Hadi: (smiling and still saying something unintelligible back)
Alhamdulillah...
Well, that's Hadi for you - in public. However, at home...hmm, well, my samurai-sword-wielding son....
To all madrasah students out there, including my sons, be confident.
You're as good as the rest, if not better.
Make small ripples first in the national arena, those ripples will cause beautiful waves soon enough.
History is witness to that.
Tengku Syamil is now Mr President of the Malay people in TPJC. Saiful Firdaus is one of the top students in his cohort too- he has been sent overseas for study programme attachments, the latest being to Hong Kong. Atiq is the best student for his year, winning the Dean's Award. I remember Ma'mum - shy but artistic. He left us to become a Student Leader and a top student in Art in his school. Halim's confident (and entertaining..) oratorical skills have made his lecturer commented on the quality of madrasah students. He scored a distinction with credit in his 'A' Level Malay Oral examination. Sis Syifa' Mansur is now in UK, on a scholarship. And I am sure, somewhere out there, we have our dear twins, making their mark quietly at SAJC.
The list goes on.
Point is, you don't have to be like the rest in order to achieve. You don't have to use the lingo -curses nor the swearing nor the multi-coloured eyelenses in order to make your mark, to feel belong. There's either too much respect for you out there, or too much misunderstanding.
You must earn that respect and correct that misunderstanding.
There is a lot of goodness out there too. A lot. Observe and learn from people. Sieve, collate, synergize the inputs. You will be a better person, insyaAllah.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, just remember who you are.
You'll always have the madrasah's institution to your name- tagged to that student particulars form and tagged to that job application form you'll be filling up, for example.
It can be a curse, if you deny that existence, that past.
Or a blessing, for it will always remind you of who you are, why you are here.
Remember who you are, always. ")
So people - in the name of Allah and for the sake of Allah - go out there with grace and tawakal, make your mark and make it well.
Do good.
Be good.
Friday, November 6, 2009
The folly of 'ber-inai'
Many lessons learnt from this 'rash passion' of behaviour:
1. Think, think and keep thinking FIRST before doing anything - if a word once spoken and an arrow once drawn cannot be retrieved, alas, putting on henna has pretty much the same effect. Like a tattoo, it stays there on the skin, but thankfully, unlike a tattoo, it will fade with time. WITH TIME. :(
Timing is everything. I love the henna, but I mistimed the action - I thought since there would be no more teaching then it is 'safe' to put it on and pass off 'innocently undetected' for the next, at most, two more weeks of term. Alas, again, I found out that henna gets DARKER OVER TIME... before it fades. Yes, now it is darker than it was two days ago. :(
How am I to go through corrections with the kids without writing on the whiteboard and thus not exposing the henna?
How am I to meet my Art students later?!
Of course, the one logical way out is to put on gloves.
Can you imagine me like the late Michael Jackson in the class?!
2. To anyone who has put me on a pedestal before, well, this is a good reminder to my dear friends that baizah is as fallible as everybody else. Please forgive my 'human-ness'.
I am shy of the henna and shyer of the glove.
Maybe I will head to Angsana or Geylang and get myself a pair of gloves.
Or I can let the the matter rest so that everytime I see this right hand, I am humbly reminded of the folly of being rash.
1. Think, think and keep thinking FIRST before doing anything - if a word once spoken and an arrow once drawn cannot be retrieved, alas, putting on henna has pretty much the same effect. Like a tattoo, it stays there on the skin, but thankfully, unlike a tattoo, it will fade with time. WITH TIME. :(
Timing is everything. I love the henna, but I mistimed the action - I thought since there would be no more teaching then it is 'safe' to put it on and pass off 'innocently undetected' for the next, at most, two more weeks of term. Alas, again, I found out that henna gets DARKER OVER TIME... before it fades. Yes, now it is darker than it was two days ago. :(
How am I to go through corrections with the kids without writing on the whiteboard and thus not exposing the henna?
How am I to meet my Art students later?!
Of course, the one logical way out is to put on gloves.
Can you imagine me like the late Michael Jackson in the class?!
2. To anyone who has put me on a pedestal before, well, this is a good reminder to my dear friends that baizah is as fallible as everybody else. Please forgive my 'human-ness'.
I am shy of the henna and shyer of the glove.
Maybe I will head to Angsana or Geylang and get myself a pair of gloves.
Or I can let the the matter rest so that everytime I see this right hand, I am humbly reminded of the folly of being rash.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Cerita 'CinTa'
Rasa terpanggil untuk berkongsi sedikit cerita berkenaan 'cinta'.
Mungkin rasa ini hadir kerana berita yang dikongsi oleh seseorang berkenaan perkembangan 'persahabatan' nya - para ahli keluarga masing-masing akan mengadakan ta'aruf. Masalahnya, mereka berdua masih bersekolah....
Mungkin juga kerana terbaca blog A'lim. :) Zina hati..naauzubillah.
Tapi yang pasti, memang sudah lama 'suara-suara' ini terpendam di buah fikiran, di lubuk perasaan.
Minta izin berkongsi....
Tak perlulah memberi definisi 'cinta'. Cuma, 'perasaan' itu datang dari hati - satu cetusan halus yang mudah-mudahan adalah daripada sumber-sumber yang suci, ketukan ilham daripada Illahi.
Mungkinkah timbul cinta dahulu, atau persahabatan dahulu? :) Ada yang mengatakan, dari persahabatan timbul cinta, dari cinta timbul rindu. :)
Kepada yang merasakan 'cetusan-cetusan' ini, satu perkongsian saya ialah:
'Keep it simple...and pure.'
Perlukah persahabatan itu di pupuk menjadi yang lebih daripada persahabatan?
Persahabatan sejati tidak akan membawa kepada perasaan ingin memiliki, yang hanya akan membawa kepada perasaan 'cemburu'. Bila dah cemburu, fikiran pun bercelaru.
Mulalah timbul perkara-perkara 'pelik':
Mandi tak basah
Tidur tak lena
Makan tak lalu
Daripada mandi tak basah, kan bagus basahkan anggota dengan wudhuk?
Daripada tidur tak lena, kan bagus bangun dan bersolat tahajjud, istiharah dan hajat?
Daripada makan tak lalu, kan bagus berpuasa sunat Isnin dan Khamis?
Pokoknya, ke mana nak kita bawa hati yang dah mula merasakan ingin memiliki, lebih daripada bersahabat?
Ke mana nak dibawa hati yang sudah mula gundah-gulana mengingati si dia?
Bawalah hati itu ke sejadah.
Bawalah hati itu kepada Allah -
berdoalah untuk kebaikan orang yang telah mencetuskan perasaan itu.
Bersyukurlah kita dapat merasakan nikmat perasan halus sebegitu.
Cukuplah.
Kan masih menuntut ilmu?
Kan masih jauh perjalanan hidup ini?
Tak perlu untuk mengukir janji.
Ukir sahajalah senyuman semanis-manis dan selebar-lebarnya untuk dia - kan senyuman itu sedekah!
Tak perlu fikirkan mungkin dia akan di 'kebas' orang -
Jika memang itu jodoh kita, percayalah, dia akan jadi milik mu.
Jika tidak, setidaknya, anda dapat pahala kerana menjaga kesucian anda dan kesucian dirinya.
Jika memang itu jodoh kita, percayalah, hatinya dan hati kita akan didekatkan Allah.
Jika memang itu jodoh kita, dipisahkan beribu batupun, kita akan dapat bersama.
Saya berjumpa dengan suami ketika saya menduduki peperiksaan 'O' Level. Beliau adalah sepupu saya. Baru sekali berjumpa, 'cetusan-cetusan' itu ada... :)
Setelah mendapat keputusan 'O' Level, beliau adalah orang pertama yang saya ingin berkongsi keputusan saya - aneh, seorang yang jauh di Klang, Selangor, tapi ingatan saya selalu padanya....
Kita bertunang selama lima tahun - di uji Allah ketika sama-sama di universiti. Saya di sini, beliau jauh di Malaysia, kemudian beliau ke Amerika Syarikat.
Berjumpa hanya mungkin tiga kali sahaja.
Di dalam pertunangan ini, hanya suara dan tulisan yang menjadi teman...
Kalau dihimpun duit-duit sen untuk menelefon saya, mungkin setinggi Bukit Timah...
Kalau dihimpun surat-surat yang kita layangkan, mungkin setinggi Gunung Ledang.... :)
Alhamdulillah, pertunangan ke jinjang perkahwinan.
Realitinya, senang cakap daripada buat, betul kan? :)
Sebiji kata allahyarham P Ramlee ; "Siksa aku dah lepas..."
Alhamdulillah, saya dah melepasi 'siksa' cinta remaja...
Giliran anak-anak saya (you know which ones!) dan you people pula......... :)
Cubalah -
Keep it simple...and pure.
Tak rugi.
Dunia dan akhirat - :)
Mungkin rasa ini hadir kerana berita yang dikongsi oleh seseorang berkenaan perkembangan 'persahabatan' nya - para ahli keluarga masing-masing akan mengadakan ta'aruf. Masalahnya, mereka berdua masih bersekolah....
Mungkin juga kerana terbaca blog A'lim. :) Zina hati..naauzubillah.
Tapi yang pasti, memang sudah lama 'suara-suara' ini terpendam di buah fikiran, di lubuk perasaan.
Minta izin berkongsi....
Tak perlulah memberi definisi 'cinta'. Cuma, 'perasaan' itu datang dari hati - satu cetusan halus yang mudah-mudahan adalah daripada sumber-sumber yang suci, ketukan ilham daripada Illahi.
Mungkinkah timbul cinta dahulu, atau persahabatan dahulu? :) Ada yang mengatakan, dari persahabatan timbul cinta, dari cinta timbul rindu. :)
Kepada yang merasakan 'cetusan-cetusan' ini, satu perkongsian saya ialah:
'Keep it simple...and pure.'
Perlukah persahabatan itu di pupuk menjadi yang lebih daripada persahabatan?
Persahabatan sejati tidak akan membawa kepada perasaan ingin memiliki, yang hanya akan membawa kepada perasaan 'cemburu'. Bila dah cemburu, fikiran pun bercelaru.
Mulalah timbul perkara-perkara 'pelik':
Mandi tak basah
Tidur tak lena
Makan tak lalu
Daripada mandi tak basah, kan bagus basahkan anggota dengan wudhuk?
Daripada tidur tak lena, kan bagus bangun dan bersolat tahajjud, istiharah dan hajat?
Daripada makan tak lalu, kan bagus berpuasa sunat Isnin dan Khamis?
Pokoknya, ke mana nak kita bawa hati yang dah mula merasakan ingin memiliki, lebih daripada bersahabat?
Ke mana nak dibawa hati yang sudah mula gundah-gulana mengingati si dia?
Bawalah hati itu ke sejadah.
Bawalah hati itu kepada Allah -
berdoalah untuk kebaikan orang yang telah mencetuskan perasaan itu.
Bersyukurlah kita dapat merasakan nikmat perasan halus sebegitu.
Cukuplah.
Kan masih menuntut ilmu?
Kan masih jauh perjalanan hidup ini?
Tak perlu untuk mengukir janji.
Ukir sahajalah senyuman semanis-manis dan selebar-lebarnya untuk dia - kan senyuman itu sedekah!
Tak perlu fikirkan mungkin dia akan di 'kebas' orang -
Jika memang itu jodoh kita, percayalah, dia akan jadi milik mu.
Jika tidak, setidaknya, anda dapat pahala kerana menjaga kesucian anda dan kesucian dirinya.
Jika memang itu jodoh kita, percayalah, hatinya dan hati kita akan didekatkan Allah.
Jika memang itu jodoh kita, dipisahkan beribu batupun, kita akan dapat bersama.
Saya berjumpa dengan suami ketika saya menduduki peperiksaan 'O' Level. Beliau adalah sepupu saya. Baru sekali berjumpa, 'cetusan-cetusan' itu ada... :)
Setelah mendapat keputusan 'O' Level, beliau adalah orang pertama yang saya ingin berkongsi keputusan saya - aneh, seorang yang jauh di Klang, Selangor, tapi ingatan saya selalu padanya....
Kita bertunang selama lima tahun - di uji Allah ketika sama-sama di universiti. Saya di sini, beliau jauh di Malaysia, kemudian beliau ke Amerika Syarikat.
Berjumpa hanya mungkin tiga kali sahaja.
Di dalam pertunangan ini, hanya suara dan tulisan yang menjadi teman...
Kalau dihimpun duit-duit sen untuk menelefon saya, mungkin setinggi Bukit Timah...
Kalau dihimpun surat-surat yang kita layangkan, mungkin setinggi Gunung Ledang.... :)
Alhamdulillah, pertunangan ke jinjang perkahwinan.
Realitinya, senang cakap daripada buat, betul kan? :)
Sebiji kata allahyarham P Ramlee ; "Siksa aku dah lepas..."
Alhamdulillah, saya dah melepasi 'siksa' cinta remaja...
Giliran anak-anak saya (you know which ones!) dan you people pula......... :)
Cubalah -
Keep it simple...and pure.
Tak rugi.
Dunia dan akhirat - :)
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Kecoh-kecoh Art
3.11.2009
Tuesday
Lest anyone thinks of Art as easy - well, just ask the trio when they took their paper last Tuesday! Five sheets of preparatory work sounds manageable, but translate that into sketches, direct observations,creative interpretation of resources and collating these into an original piece of work - well, what you get is three frantic people trying to complete everything before the exam starts at two. I came up to the class at about 1.30 p.m., wanting to say good byes and good luck and ended up looking at an upside-down class, littered with papers, papers, and more papers. There was the Artist, giving the finishing touches to his work. They look good. There was the Gentleman, having his hands all gluey. I like his photos. And of course, the Lady, looking resplendent in yellow - and cutting away at a neck, the waist, the head - trying to fit the photos in the drawings. Hers look uniqely ethnic. Two o'clock, and they still have not completed! It was panicky time! They somehow managed to complete EVERYTHING in five minutes, rushed off to the lift and I just had to send them off to Beatty. It was heart-stopping, but exhilarating as well - we reached the guard post at about 2.10 p.m. Alhamdulillah, they were allowed in. At about 6.00 p.m., while I was already in JB, Shah called to say they have all completed their paper. Phew! Thanks Shah for the call. You put my mind at ease.
And thanks Sakinah, Lino and Hanisah for your quiet support and for er, yes, helping to clear everything up after your friends left. :)
So, yes, another paper to go right? ;)
This time we'll finish on time, won't we?!
Tuesday
Lest anyone thinks of Art as easy - well, just ask the trio when they took their paper last Tuesday! Five sheets of preparatory work sounds manageable, but translate that into sketches, direct observations,creative interpretation of resources and collating these into an original piece of work - well, what you get is three frantic people trying to complete everything before the exam starts at two. I came up to the class at about 1.30 p.m., wanting to say good byes and good luck and ended up looking at an upside-down class, littered with papers, papers, and more papers. There was the Artist, giving the finishing touches to his work. They look good. There was the Gentleman, having his hands all gluey. I like his photos. And of course, the Lady, looking resplendent in yellow - and cutting away at a neck, the waist, the head - trying to fit the photos in the drawings. Hers look uniqely ethnic. Two o'clock, and they still have not completed! It was panicky time! They somehow managed to complete EVERYTHING in five minutes, rushed off to the lift and I just had to send them off to Beatty. It was heart-stopping, but exhilarating as well - we reached the guard post at about 2.10 p.m. Alhamdulillah, they were allowed in. At about 6.00 p.m., while I was already in JB, Shah called to say they have all completed their paper. Phew! Thanks Shah for the call. You put my mind at ease.
And thanks Sakinah, Lino and Hanisah for your quiet support and for er, yes, helping to clear everything up after your friends left. :)
So, yes, another paper to go right? ;)
This time we'll finish on time, won't we?!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Announcements -
Be forewarned - these are totally random...
1. S509 Yearbook - Alhamdulillah, it's finally finished - phew! Managed to get the theme right - which is Doa Rabitah and Warisan (Legacy). May it touched the heart of those who read as it has touched mine. :) Still in the process of printing though - finally decided to print it myself at home because printing quality in school, is well, pathetic. Into my second black cartridge now...
2. Oh Lino! It is so difficult to write a happy ending! I am crying to write one! But I shall persevere and trying hard.... :) Now I truly need inspiring moments....
3. My two sons ( you people know which ones...!) are officially in love. With the burger-girl. Yup. You people might want to call it monkey love, or puppy love. It is not. I would prefer to call it 'patty love'. Yup. The way to these Mars' hearts is still their stomachs. Yes, Mary - we have gone back to the caveman era. It's clobbering, hair pulling time!
4. Raje, you're officially the darling of the 'umik'. Your post was a riot and your card belied a budding poet - chehwah! was blinking away me eyes and swallowing so hard after reading it...You should write more proses like that....
5. And yes, Zaimah - I don't think I deserve all that..but you are still one of the sweetest people around... :) don't give up, alright?
miss you all, gals...
Told you this was random....
1. S509 Yearbook - Alhamdulillah, it's finally finished - phew! Managed to get the theme right - which is Doa Rabitah and Warisan (Legacy). May it touched the heart of those who read as it has touched mine. :) Still in the process of printing though - finally decided to print it myself at home because printing quality in school, is well, pathetic. Into my second black cartridge now...
2. Oh Lino! It is so difficult to write a happy ending! I am crying to write one! But I shall persevere and trying hard.... :) Now I truly need inspiring moments....
3. My two sons ( you people know which ones...!) are officially in love. With the burger-girl. Yup. You people might want to call it monkey love, or puppy love. It is not. I would prefer to call it 'patty love'. Yup. The way to these Mars' hearts is still their stomachs. Yes, Mary - we have gone back to the caveman era. It's clobbering, hair pulling time!
4. Raje, you're officially the darling of the 'umik'. Your post was a riot and your card belied a budding poet - chehwah! was blinking away me eyes and swallowing so hard after reading it...You should write more proses like that....
5. And yes, Zaimah - I don't think I deserve all that..but you are still one of the sweetest people around... :) don't give up, alright?
miss you all, gals...
Told you this was random....
Youthful Idealism
A group of Upper Secondary boys have been getting some attention lately. Not because they misbehaved. No. Attention was on them because they chose to be absent from school to attend a talk by a visiting ustaz at a local organisation. Some of us were worried that they might have their priorities wrong, for at their age, education should be foremost in their minds. Right? Hmmm...They did have their parents' blessings, as far as I know...the organisation even wrote a letter to inform the school regarding their absence...imagine! I was actually reminded of a thought by Imam Ghazali regarding youths...he was writing about the developmental stages of a child and he said, if I am not mistaken, that at the youthful stage, we need to give these youths a cause to fight for. It is at this age that their idealism is at its highest. They are at that stage where they would want to cling to some idealism, take on somebody as their mentor/idol and would stick to that ideal throughout their adult life. It is a most impressionistic time of their growing up and given the right guidance, these young adults can do wonders and lots of good to themselves and to society. Which brings me to the question of these students - how do we channel their new-found idealism towards something that is positive, so that they know their priorities, contribute to society and at the same time attain success for their future? Not an easy question to answer, nor an easy task to undertake. Whatever it is, we would have to, I think, tend to them with hikmah and patience, for idealism can so easily turn to rebelliousness and that, as we all know, is not something anybody wants to deal with. :)
May Allah bless our youths and help them attain and maintain their felicity and grow up to be mujahid in HIS cause and a blessing to the world as should be - Khalifah fil Ard..a rahmat to all!
May Allah bless our youths and help them attain and maintain their felicity and grow up to be mujahid in HIS cause and a blessing to the world as should be - Khalifah fil Ard..a rahmat to all!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
And the floodgates open....S509 'Graduation' Day
Hangover. Major.
I had prayed that I will be sane and retain all my thinking and speaking faculties on this day. I wanted to be able to say what I wanted to say to these students. Alhamdulillah I did.
But it wasn't easy.
Thursday. I thought it was easy to say thank you, to say sorry and then to leave a few last words. It wasn't. Thanks for being patient and bearing with me..those were verry difficult ten or fifteen minutes of my teaching life...
Then that dear guy had to sing THAT song..and well, it rained..It's not easy to be seeing red eyes and red faces trying very hard not to have red eyes...It's not easy to see 'naughty', grinning faces turning sobre and wishful...it wasn't...
Friday. The rain fell all the way from JB. It's a surprise we didn't have any mishaps along the way. Thank you Allah...Usually, at the last singing of the school song, there'll be sadness..the dear lady beside me was already touched..but I wasn't. Really. In fact, the rain would not fall at all, and I was going through my lessons and meeting everybody with smiles. I then began to wonder and really worried whether there was something wrong with me...I felt nothing. Just a dullness inside.
After solat, the thinker came to see me. As I read, something happened, something burst...
And the floodgates opened....
It was pretty bad because Mdm Faezah was asking me whether I was okay and I just nodded my head. Then the guys came with my report card and a lot of other things happened...
It wasn't easy.
It wasn't easy to let go of a part of your life that was meaningful. Yes, we will meet again, insyaAllah, but it will be different. When my children leaves the home, I know they'll always come back again. But when my students leave the school.... Then it struck me that I have not followed my own maxim...kan Allah ada.. And because of this, I pray for your success, dunia and akhirat..may we meet and depart because of Allah, because of our love for HIM...
Doa rabitah buat anak-anak S509...
Let's celebrate your coming of age, let's now put our faces, hearts, minds forward for the bigger task of the 'O' levels. Keep true to your promises.....Perjuangan belum berakhir... :)
Till we meet again, insyaAllah... i miss you people lots..
I had prayed that I will be sane and retain all my thinking and speaking faculties on this day. I wanted to be able to say what I wanted to say to these students. Alhamdulillah I did.
But it wasn't easy.
Thursday. I thought it was easy to say thank you, to say sorry and then to leave a few last words. It wasn't. Thanks for being patient and bearing with me..those were verry difficult ten or fifteen minutes of my teaching life...
Then that dear guy had to sing THAT song..and well, it rained..It's not easy to be seeing red eyes and red faces trying very hard not to have red eyes...It's not easy to see 'naughty', grinning faces turning sobre and wishful...it wasn't...
Friday. The rain fell all the way from JB. It's a surprise we didn't have any mishaps along the way. Thank you Allah...Usually, at the last singing of the school song, there'll be sadness..the dear lady beside me was already touched..but I wasn't. Really. In fact, the rain would not fall at all, and I was going through my lessons and meeting everybody with smiles. I then began to wonder and really worried whether there was something wrong with me...I felt nothing. Just a dullness inside.
After solat, the thinker came to see me. As I read, something happened, something burst...
And the floodgates opened....
It was pretty bad because Mdm Faezah was asking me whether I was okay and I just nodded my head. Then the guys came with my report card and a lot of other things happened...
It wasn't easy.
It wasn't easy to let go of a part of your life that was meaningful. Yes, we will meet again, insyaAllah, but it will be different. When my children leaves the home, I know they'll always come back again. But when my students leave the school.... Then it struck me that I have not followed my own maxim...kan Allah ada.. And because of this, I pray for your success, dunia and akhirat..may we meet and depart because of Allah, because of our love for HIM...
Doa rabitah buat anak-anak S509...
Let's celebrate your coming of age, let's now put our faces, hearts, minds forward for the bigger task of the 'O' levels. Keep true to your promises.....Perjuangan belum berakhir... :)
Till we meet again, insyaAllah... i miss you people lots..
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Happy Teadren Day!!!
First and foremost, i still would like to stress that i don't particularly fancy teacher's day celebration.
This year, fortunately, was an exception.
It was, first of all, an ambitious project - 4 hours under the void-deck, in the heat and all of us teachers bedecked in our 'fineries' - samping and all. No joke.
But the enthusiasm of the participants more than made up for it.
There was MC Yan and MC Amir, both newbies to the performance world, but i must say, were credible and entertaining, as well as informative. Kudos to them. Especially to MC Yan.. :)
Then there were the S5, and the S5s and the S5s...they pretty much dominated the show, this being their last appearance, or so it seemed..and WOW! Nabjo must surely be the best actress of the day - she was so totally out of her shell...furiously funny as the vogue mother who was determined to remain oh! so unIslamic...Ummi was hilarious as the grandmother- liked the way you 'dance', grandma... And of course, there was the boys' dikir barat - a spectacularly complicated swirls of arm movements and syaraf's voice was just so golden, so good... :) And of course there was abu, the' joker' who couldn't stay serious even if he wanted to.... and haykal, great job leading the percussionists - shah and ismail, you guys really did a good job providing the beat and soul of the performance.....there was a 'choking' moment though, when the guys were singing a song, led by ishak. i don't know - i could not just sit and listen, i had to leave, for i had told myself i was going to be all smiles that day...no rain, please!! :)
there were thankful moments like when azlina gave me my 'report card' - it was so touching... when i was sneaked from behind to say something, i was so out of words, but almost 'died' trying to stifle my laughter when i saw the whole lot of S5A boys, their hands over their heads, really looking like monkeys... i half expected ariff to do the monkey dance, too... but awww! he has grown too matured for that, i guess, right thinker?? :)
It was, Alhamdulillah, a beautiful day.
I am so really going to miss you gals and guys...lots and lots.... stay good, k? :)
This year, fortunately, was an exception.
It was, first of all, an ambitious project - 4 hours under the void-deck, in the heat and all of us teachers bedecked in our 'fineries' - samping and all. No joke.
But the enthusiasm of the participants more than made up for it.
There was MC Yan and MC Amir, both newbies to the performance world, but i must say, were credible and entertaining, as well as informative. Kudos to them. Especially to MC Yan.. :)
Then there were the S5, and the S5s and the S5s...they pretty much dominated the show, this being their last appearance, or so it seemed..and WOW! Nabjo must surely be the best actress of the day - she was so totally out of her shell...furiously funny as the vogue mother who was determined to remain oh! so unIslamic...Ummi was hilarious as the grandmother- liked the way you 'dance', grandma... And of course, there was the boys' dikir barat - a spectacularly complicated swirls of arm movements and syaraf's voice was just so golden, so good... :) And of course there was abu, the' joker' who couldn't stay serious even if he wanted to.... and haykal, great job leading the percussionists - shah and ismail, you guys really did a good job providing the beat and soul of the performance.....there was a 'choking' moment though, when the guys were singing a song, led by ishak. i don't know - i could not just sit and listen, i had to leave, for i had told myself i was going to be all smiles that day...no rain, please!! :)
there were thankful moments like when azlina gave me my 'report card' - it was so touching... when i was sneaked from behind to say something, i was so out of words, but almost 'died' trying to stifle my laughter when i saw the whole lot of S5A boys, their hands over their heads, really looking like monkeys... i half expected ariff to do the monkey dance, too... but awww! he has grown too matured for that, i guess, right thinker?? :)
It was, Alhamdulillah, a beautiful day.
I am so really going to miss you gals and guys...lots and lots.... stay good, k? :)
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
BEING LOST
If things were different
Then I would be
the happiest one on Earth
I'll be walking on cloud nine
everyday
I'll be seeing my world
Thru' rose-tinted glasses
I'll be lost in the euphoria
In the drunkardness
of tangible fulfillment
I will be lost...
If things were different
YOU will be lost
I will not often feel
the hot gushing of tears
As they fall on the sejadah
I will not often feel
The sense of being utterly
alone
Utterly unconsoled
Utterly unprotected
Yet
So utterly lost
In the warmth of YOUR gaze
YOUR presence
YOUR anger
YOUR gentleness
YOUR SILENCE
In my head,
mine eyes,
mine heart
[ Alhamdulillah
Moga terkubur kepalsuan
Terpancar kesucian
Hidup subur keimanan
Kepasrahan, kerendahan
Pengharapan
Keampunan.... Amin ]
Then I would be
the happiest one on Earth
I'll be walking on cloud nine
everyday
I'll be seeing my world
Thru' rose-tinted glasses
I'll be lost in the euphoria
In the drunkardness
of tangible fulfillment
I will be lost...
If things were different
YOU will be lost
I will not often feel
the hot gushing of tears
As they fall on the sejadah
I will not often feel
The sense of being utterly
alone
Utterly unconsoled
Utterly unprotected
Yet
So utterly lost
In the warmth of YOUR gaze
YOUR presence
YOUR anger
YOUR gentleness
YOUR SILENCE
In my head,
mine eyes,
mine heart
[ Alhamdulillah
Moga terkubur kepalsuan
Terpancar kesucian
Hidup subur keimanan
Kepasrahan, kerendahan
Pengharapan
Keampunan.... Amin ]
Monday, September 14, 2009
Solat Terawih
Yesterday night was a beautiful one.
For the first time this Ramadhan, I get to solat terawih berjemaah with my family.
Halim and Hadi and hubby took turns to be the imam for the solat.
My heart swelled in gratitute (and pride?...naauzubillah), when my sons led the solat.
This is the nikmat of sending your child to be educated in the madrasah...Alhamdulillah..
One can only hope and pray that your children will remember to pray for you after you have left this world...
To all their teachers, Jazakumullahu khairan kathiran for being patient with them, Hafiz and Haziq included.
Halim and Hadi came to Irsyad with 'zeroes' - and came out Arabic literate, Alhamdulillah and SubhanAllah!
It is said that if one is not thankful to a fellow human being, then one is also not being thankful to Allah...
Well, this is one really thankful and grateful individual.... :)
For the first time this Ramadhan, I get to solat terawih berjemaah with my family.
Halim and Hadi and hubby took turns to be the imam for the solat.
My heart swelled in gratitute (and pride?...naauzubillah), when my sons led the solat.
This is the nikmat of sending your child to be educated in the madrasah...Alhamdulillah..
One can only hope and pray that your children will remember to pray for you after you have left this world...
To all their teachers, Jazakumullahu khairan kathiran for being patient with them, Hafiz and Haziq included.
Halim and Hadi came to Irsyad with 'zeroes' - and came out Arabic literate, Alhamdulillah and SubhanAllah!
It is said that if one is not thankful to a fellow human being, then one is also not being thankful to Allah...
Well, this is one really thankful and grateful individual.... :)
Archiving old posts
These are taken from a not too old blog. It's been deleted.
CONVERSATION
Question : Why is the conversation always frustrating?
Answer : Because it always ends up being either a scolding session or a 'make me feel like the lowest-good-for-nothing scum on earth.'
Question : Why bother to talk?
Answer : Because.... (well, you know the answer)
-hic-
Before a word can be spoken, it has to pass through 3 gates:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary?
Kind words, without truth, is Falsity - You're lying.
Truth, without kind words, is Cruelty - You're insensitive and mean.
Silence is golden. Always. Truly
June 13 2009, 10.57 a.m.
Answer : Because it always ends up being either a scolding session or a 'make me feel like the lowest-good-for-nothing scum on earth.'
Question : Why bother to talk?
Answer : Because.... (well, you know the answer)
-hic-
Before a word can be spoken, it has to pass through 3 gates:
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it kind?
3. Is it necessary?
Kind words, without truth, is Falsity - You're lying.
Truth, without kind words, is Cruelty - You're insensitive and mean.
Silence is golden. Always. Truly
June 13 2009, 10.57 a.m.
BEAUTY
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder -
Blessed are those with beauty within -
Lucky the beholder of beauty -
Wretched are those with neither beauty within nor beauty without!
July 9 2009, 22.56 p.m.
July 9 2009, 22.56 p.m.
SL Investiture 2009
there is always mixed feelings everytime i am at the SL Investiture. i would be so proud of the young boys and girls, standing tall, some rather shyly, but all you can see with shines in their eyes. they have come of age. the boys looked very smart in their striped green ties. then, there would be the formal swearing in of the new head of student leader, which means the current head will give his handover speech. this year is most poignant, because for one thing, i am not attending this as an HOD. it is different. i feel like an outsider looking inside a glass bottle. i wanted to be with the outgoing S5s, but was too shy, in case anybody would interprete my actions as being bossy. i wanted to thank them for their hardest work, doing duty, making rosters, planning, executing, getting cursed in the end by some rogue students. in short, they faced a lot of flak, just so to be responsible sl. now, that is respectable and commendable! Harith's speech was tops - it sounded sincere... :) i think, all said and done, it was a good show, being the first one held in Irsyad@SIH. Congrats to Zul, i know, we all know, you will be a great HSL, just like all your seniors before you....
July 31st 2009
Teacher's Day 2009
I normally don't like to celebrate Teacher's Day. Really. When I received any gifts, I will feel guilty - do I deserve such gifts in the first place? Do I deserve the 'accolades' that come with the gift? When I DON'T receive a gift from some students whom I sort of expected to get a gift (I know, I know, I am being presumptiously arrogant), I would feel kind of down and melancholic. So, I don't really enjoy teacher's day celebrations...
This year, however, was an exception.
In the first place, Teacher's Day falls smack in the middle of Ramadhan. Meaning, no 'official' celebrations. What a relief!
Secondly, the secondary kids are more shy and self-conscious than their primary brethens, thus, it is very highly unlikely that they will give away any gifts.
They gave away sms msgs instead! Oh! The messages were touching!Among these, one was really uplifting - it came from the mother of one of my S5 students. Imagine! Having a mother thanking you personally! I truly feel I don't deserve her praises...her daughter is a joy to teach, a fast learner, and very respectful. May Allah bless her family and all her sacrifices in raising her children to be good Muslims..Amin.
I ask myself too, why am I a teacher? Not quite an easy question to answer...I guess, to put it simply, I enjoy sharing what little knowledge I have with others. I have thrills when I see a confused face light up in understanding of the lesson, I am energised when I go around the class, I feel alive being with young people, dealing with young minds, aware that whatever I say today, might have an impact on their lives tomorrow. Yes. A teacher IS a powerful being. He can build, and he can destroys. He can create and he can reshape. Rasullullah s.a.w once reminded us to convey his teachings, even if it is only one ayat. A student dies with the same pahala as a mujahid, insyaAllah, if his quest for knowledge is based on pure aims and efforts. A Muslim, once he dies, will have everything worldly cut off from him, except for three things. One of these is the good knowledge he taught and practised by others. MasyaAllah!
Teaching, in a way, knows no time limit, no physical boundaries.
May Allah bless all my teachers for I am what I am, in part, through their efforts and belief in me and in what I can become and now, have become.
This year, however, was an exception.
In the first place, Teacher's Day falls smack in the middle of Ramadhan. Meaning, no 'official' celebrations. What a relief!
Secondly, the secondary kids are more shy and self-conscious than their primary brethens, thus, it is very highly unlikely that they will give away any gifts.
They gave away sms msgs instead! Oh! The messages were touching!Among these, one was really uplifting - it came from the mother of one of my S5 students. Imagine! Having a mother thanking you personally! I truly feel I don't deserve her praises...her daughter is a joy to teach, a fast learner, and very respectful. May Allah bless her family and all her sacrifices in raising her children to be good Muslims..Amin.
I ask myself too, why am I a teacher? Not quite an easy question to answer...I guess, to put it simply, I enjoy sharing what little knowledge I have with others. I have thrills when I see a confused face light up in understanding of the lesson, I am energised when I go around the class, I feel alive being with young people, dealing with young minds, aware that whatever I say today, might have an impact on their lives tomorrow. Yes. A teacher IS a powerful being. He can build, and he can destroys. He can create and he can reshape. Rasullullah s.a.w once reminded us to convey his teachings, even if it is only one ayat. A student dies with the same pahala as a mujahid, insyaAllah, if his quest for knowledge is based on pure aims and efforts. A Muslim, once he dies, will have everything worldly cut off from him, except for three things. One of these is the good knowledge he taught and practised by others. MasyaAllah!
Teaching, in a way, knows no time limit, no physical boundaries.
May Allah bless all my teachers for I am what I am, in part, through their efforts and belief in me and in what I can become and now, have become.
To Cikgu, this is for you:
kasih guru
sukar dimengerti, sering di salaherti
pujuk rayunya bak sang kekasih
ugut dodoinya bak sang ibu
jerih lelahnya bak sang ayah
gurau sendanya bak saudara dan mara
siapa yang tahu
senyum tangismu
siapakah guru di hatimu?
September 4 2009, 15.53 p.m.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Fool
A wiseman once said:
The answer to a fool's question is silence.
This sets me thinking -
If you answer a fool's question, he might not understand your answer.
In fact, a REAL fool might not even understand his question.
Question is:
How do we know the REAL fool?
Who is the fool?
Am I the fool?
Therein lies the REAL question, I guess....
The answer to a fool's question is silence.
This sets me thinking -
If you answer a fool's question, he might not understand your answer.
In fact, a REAL fool might not even understand his question.
Question is:
How do we know the REAL fool?
Who is the fool?
Am I the fool?
Therein lies the REAL question, I guess....
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